Hong Kong’s transport chief has said the government will suspend a mandatory seat belt requirement for bus passengers and later revise the legislation, after the law was found to be only applicable to new buses registered from January 25.
Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan on Friday conceded there were “deficiencies” in the law, saying it had failed to reflect the intent of the policy requiring all passengers travelling on public or private buses – including franchised and school services – to wear seat belts where available.
Ex-lawmaker Doreen Kong Yuk-foon, a member of the subcommittee that examined the proposed legislative amendment last year, dropped a bombshell the day before by pointing out the written law actually only applied to new buses registered from January 25 this year.
She said a government press release on January 8 caused confusion by stating that passengers had to wear seat belts regardless of whether the vehicles were newly registered, contradicting what was written in the law.
Anyone convicted of breaching the law faces a maximum fine of HK$5,000 (US$640) and up to three months’ imprisonment.
Residents have raised complaints over the rules, citing poorly fitting restraints, hygiene issues and concerns that early unbuckling would constitute a breach of the law.
The law has also prompted the city’s major political parties to call for a review of the legislation in six to nine months.
